Day 1. Depart JFK/Newark for Dublin

Day 2. We arrive in Dublin, where we will begin our pilgrimage at Trinity College, viewing the Book of Kells (a 9th century completion of the Gospel as written by monks) housed in its ancient library. We continue with a panoramic tour around Dublin, including the General Post Office and Phoenix Park, before visiting St. Patrick's Anglican Cathedral dating back to 1213. After viewing the cathedral's tombs, monuments and stained-glasswindows, we check into our hotel in the late afternoon

Day 3. In the morning, we leave for Armagh, the spiritual center of Ireland and home of the Catholic St. Patrick's Cathedral and medieval-Byzantine, Anglican St. Patrick's Cathedral. We continue to Downpatrick and Down Cathedral, where St. Patrick is buried along with St. Columba and St. Brigid. We enjoy a short city tour of Belfast before returning to Dublin

Day 4. Departing Dublin for Galway, we make a stop in the medieval city of Kilkenny, founded as a Monastic center. We tour its castle and breathtaking medieval architecture before continuing our journey to Galway with a stop at the "Rock of Cashel," where we view the 12th century, Romanesque Comac Chapel, Cathedral and Round Tower

Day 5. Today we travel to the 13th century, Ballintubber Abbey, an Augustinian Monastery built next to the site where St. Patrick baptized his earliest converts. Afterwards, we continue to Croagh Patrick, the mountain where St. Patrick fasted for 40 days. We have an opportunity for prayer and reflection. Those who wish to climb may do so

Day 6. Traveling along the coast, with the the Atlantic on one side and a rocky landscape on the other, we arrive at the Cliffs of Moher. Jutting more than 700 feet from the water, the spectacular cliffs stretch over five miles and are Ireland's number one tourist attraction. We continue our journey with a visit the 12th century, Cistercian's Corcomroe Abbey, viewing its Romanesque carvings before returning to Galway.

Day 7. Our pilgrimage concludes with an all day visit to Knock where, in 1879, Mary appeared to 15 women, men and children. We tour and pray in Ireland's largest church, Knock Cathedral, and the apparition site before having free time for prayer and contemplation. We have our farewell dinner in Galway

Day 8. Depart Shannon for JFK/Newark

FROM $3,395, including base airfare from New York